A race born in 1961
Fifty-six years after the first formally-recognised offshore powerboat race took place from Calais to Dover, seven boats lined up off Cowes on the Isle of Wight for a new type of challenge. Conceived by Sir Max Aitken, who was inspired by his experience in the Miami–Nassau race, the inaugural “Daily Express Offshore Powerboat Race” was launched in September 1961.
The first winners were Tommy Sopwith and Peter Du Cane in Thunderbolt, who finished in just over four hours. The event captured imaginations immediately and led to the formation of the British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC), which continues to run it today as the Cowes International Powerboat Festival.
The course: beauty and brutality
Two courses are run.
Cowes-Torguay-Cowes
The Cowes-Torquay-Cowes is run by B.P.R.C Classes: 120, 100, 80 and 60.
The route starts in the Solent, threading past the white spires of the Needles into open sea, then sweeps along the southern English coast—through coastal hazards like Portland Bill, Lyme Bay, Start Point, and Berry Head—before a turn at Torquay and return to Cowes.
Tidal flows, shifting weather, and fierce seas make each edition unpredictable. Finishing demands not just speed but endurance through approximately 190 nautical miles (close to twice the trip to Gulf Harbour Marina to Fitzroy Harbour, Great Barrier Harbour) of mechanical and physical punishment.
Cowes-Poole-Cowes
The Cowes-Poole-Cowes is run by B.P.R.C. Classes: 75, 65 & 55.
Trophies and prestige
The number of trophies up for grabs is long, and offers some of boating’s most coveted silverware, including:
- Beaverbrook Trophy – awarded to the overall winners.
- Montagu Trophy – fastest average speed.
- BPRC International Trophy – for the top international entry (presented to the winner of the UIM BPRC Marathon World Cup, which includes the Cowes 100 and Cowes-Torquay-Cowes courses.)
- Harmsworth Trophy – dating back to 1903 and rarely awarded today.
These prizes connect today’s racers to generations of boatbuilders and daring crews.
A roll call of winners
From Tramontana (1962) and A’Speranziella (1963, Italy), to Surfury, Miss Enfield II (1970), and Kaama (1978, driven by Betty Cook), the race record is rich with heroic names. Italian and American dominance of the 1980s and 1990s (like Cinzano, Cesa 1882) added global prestige. However, British crews like Langdon & Jennings and their Silverline restored the home nation to the top in 2018.
The race returns
This weekend, the Cowes Torquay Cowes offshore powerboat race once again takes to the waters of the English Channel.
Headline entries – Class 120
At the front of the fleet, Class 120 (max 120mph) is where the real power lies.
- Silverline – British veteran Drew Langdon returns alongside co-driver Miles Jennings. Langdon has four wins to his name (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) and holds the course record of 2 hours 25 minutes set in 2021, making Silverline the team to watch.
- Good Boy Vodka – Rob Lockyer (Britain) teams with Americans Alex Pratt and Shane Franks in a 52-foot Outerlimits, one of the biggest and most powerful entries. They retired in 2024 and will be out to prove a point.
- Falcon Multispark – Dean Stoneman and Harry Thomas, winners last year aboard Laa Laa, are back in a Fountain 41-footer, eager to defend their form.
- Smokin’ Aces – Chris and James Dodge bring a Skater hull powered by Mercury engines, adding another strong British contender.
- Swedenalupowerboat – Ola and Peter Ostlund carry Scandinavian hopes in a 12.5-metre entry, adding international flair.
These boats, with horsepower figures well above 1500 hp and speeds nudging 120 mph, will fight not only for line honours but also for the Beaverbrook Trophy and potentially the Montagu Trophy for fastest average speed.
Other challengers
Class 100 features strong challengers like Piston Broke and the heritage-tinged Dry Martini, while the T25 Sunseeker brings diesel power to the mix. Lower classes add colour, with boats such as Top Banana and Thunderstreak connecting modern racing to classic offshore styles.
What’s at stake
The 2025 edition carries the same prestige as every Cowes-Torquay-Cowes and Cowes-Poole-Cowes before it. The Beaverbrook Trophy remains the ultimate prize, while the Montagu, International, and historic Harmsworth trophies bring additional layers of tradition.
For the racers, the real challenge lies in surviving up to 190 nautical miles of unforgiving water. Last year underlined the race’s attrition rate. Several boats, including Good Boy Vodka, retired before the finish. Victory may very well depend as much on reliability and seamanship as outright pace. Although the weather looks like it will play the right game, machines and crews will still be tested to their limits, and given this race’s record only a few will emerge to write their names into the history of offshore powerboating.
